Gender Differences in the Career Paths of Aspiring and Incumbent Educational Administrators.

A study was undertaken to investigate gender differences in the career paths of aspirant and incumbent certificate holders for line positions within educational administration. In October 1985, 1,338 Pennsylvania certificate holders were mailed a 4-page survey probing the areas of career pathways, job search strategies, time usage, mentor's functions, and barriers experienced. The 622 respondents included 205 male incumbents, 173 male aspirants, 93 female incumbents, and 151 female aspirants. The results indicate that two-thirds of the female certificate holders were channeled into staff positions where their performance is directed by line officers. These women's contributions may remain largely unrecognized or undervalued because organizations tend to recognized only overall goal accomplishment which is typically attributed to the line officer. While the men in this study served 2.5 years longer than the women in terms of their educational experience, the men had gained 4 years by the time they attained their first administrative position. These findings cannot be attributed to either an unwillingness of women to move or to extended absences due to female parental obligations; it is apparent that administrators must reexamine their promotion policies and attitudes to determine whether opportunities for women to assume line positions are being provided. Tables indicating the quantitative results of the survey are included. (23 references) (KM)